Gallery: Notable Canadians who have made history in space exploration

Marcos Townsend, The Gazette05.12.2013

Steve MacLean: He was selected as one of Canada’s first astronauts in the early 1980s and finally made it to space aboard Columbia in October 1992. He returned in September 2006 aboard Atlantis, when he became the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm II in space. He became the head of the Canadian Space Agency in 2008, a post he held for nearly five years.

Marcos Townsend
/ The Gazette

Marc Garneau: This present-day member of Parliament for the Liberal party became Canada’s first man in space when he completed a mission aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in October 1984. He returned to space twice more in 1996 and 2000, making him one of only two Canadian astronauts to make three trips into space.External

Roberta Bondar: Her mission aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia launched her into the history books as Canada’s first female astronaut in January 1992. Bondar, a neurologist by training, was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame for her research into space medicine. Though she left the Canadian Space Agency months after her voyage, she remains in the public eye as a photographer and advocate for environmental protection.

Guy Laliberte: The Cirque du Soleil founder became Canada’s first space tourist in 2009 when he paid $35 million for a seat on a Russian spacecraft travelling to the International Space Station.ALEXANDER NEMENOV
/ AFP/Getty Images

Robert Thirsk: Thirsk made his first mission in June 1996 aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. His second voyage was more historic when he became the first Canadian to spend a six-month stint aboard the International Space Station. Thirsk’s term lasted from late May to December 2009.Leah Hennel
/ Calgary Herald

Julie Payette: The country’s second woman in space made Canadian history during her two missions. She became the first Canadian to visit the International Space Station during her first voyage in May 1999. A decade later, when she returned to the station and joined fellow Canadian Robert Thirsk on board, it marked the first time two Canadians had ever been in space at the same time. She also served as the Canadian Space Agency’s chief astronaut from 2000 to 2007. She went on to become a Quebec envoy to Washington, D.C., and has just been appointed head of a federal science museum in Montreal.Gary Rothstein
/ CCN

Dave Williams: He became the first Canadian to be assigned as crew physician on his first space mission aboard Columbia in April 1998. Months later, he became the first non-American to hold a senior management position within NASA when he was appointed director of the Space and Life Sciences Directorate at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. He held the position for four years, but maintained astronaut training and eventually returned to space in 2007. While on this second mission he performed three space walks and set a Canadian record by spending a total of 19 hours outside the International Space Station. He is also the first Canadian to have lived and worked in both space and the ocean.Chris Mikula
/ The Ottawa Citizen

Chris Hadfield: Hadfield's career has been defined by firsts. His initial space mission in 1995 made him the only Canadian astronaut to visit the Russian space station Mir. His second, in April 2001, saw him become the first Canadian to perform a spacewalk as he helped install the second incarnation of the Canadarm. Halfway through his third mission, a sojourn that began in December 2012, he became the first Canadian to assume command of the International Space Station. These high-profile achievements, plus his enthusiastic use of photography and social media during his most recent stint in space, have earned him a loyal online following.Dmitry Lovetsky
/ AP

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